The clock is continually ticking on the Dallas Cowboys every day that they do not sign Dak Prescott to a long term contract. Similarly, the rumours about the Cowboys moving on from him, such as the most recent Russell Wilson trade rumours, gain momentum daily. While such rumours are sure to generate a lot of conversation and an abundance of hope for some Cowboys fans, they are far from likely and far less practical then most are made to believe.
The fuel for this latest rumour stems from the Russell Wilson trade demands and the reports that the Dallas Cowboys are among the select few teams that Russ is willing to be traded to. This should come as no surprise to anyone. The Dallas Cowboys are typically on most players short list and yet rarely does any player making trade demands, such as Earl Thomas or Jamal Adams, actually get their wish. Still, many fans will be tempted by the idea since Russell Wilson is widely considered a top 3 QB in the NFL.
Unfortunately, here’s why a Russel Wilson trade doesn’t really make sense for the Dallas Cowboys. First of all, Dak Prescott is not under contract. The Dallas Cowboys would have to franchise tag Dak at the very least and he would then have to agree to sign that tag. It is far more likely that if Dak is tagged again, he will not sign the franchise tag right away. In order for a deal to get done that involves Dak Prescott, Dak would have to be fully on board and have to agree to be traded to the Seahawks where he would then have to negotiate a long term deal. The Seahawks for their part would have to be willing to take on a quarterback on an expiring deal and confident that they can sign him to a long term deal. It is highly unlikely that Dak accepts a sign and trade with Seattle when he is so close to being a true free agent. As a true free agent, Dak can pick and choose a suitor or accept an offer from the highest bidder.
If the Dallas Cowboys were to make an offer for Russell Wilson, it most likely would not involve Dak Prescott in which case they would have to offer multiple first round draft picks. They would not be the only suitor and therefore a bidding war could ensue. Even if Dallas was willing to pay a kings ransom in a Russell Wilson trade, how likely is it that the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks can come to an agreement? There is history there and according to NFL Network Insider Jane Slater, there is nothing but bad blood.
Clearly the odds of the Cowboys getting a deal done for a Russell Wilson trade are astronomical. But, would obtaining Russell Wilson actually be a good idea for the Dallas Cowboys? I do not believe it would be and here is why.
First let me address the issue of the contract. It has been argued that the Cowboys would be saving money because they obviously would not have to pay Dak Prescott going forward and a portion of Russell’s contract, the signing bonus, will be absorbed by the Seahawks. As a result, Russ would have a far lower base salary over the next three years making him a bargain. However, it is unrealistic to assume that Russ would just willingly play out those three years when he has a history of demanding a pay raise before his contract expires. He also now has a history of wanting to leave town if things don’t go as well as expected. The Russell Wilson trade talks only began after he complained about his offensive line. The Dallas Cowboys offensive line is not what it used to be and Russ’ playing style does not do any favours for offensive linemen. Furthermore, Seattle’s defensive struggles last year forced the team to rely heavily on Russell’s arm and he took a lot of punishment. The defensive situation in Dallas is far from an improvement and it would be hard to address that after giving up multiple first round picks. So without multiple first round picks and a likely pay raise expected for Russell Wilson, wouldn’t the Cowboys be better off just paying a younger Dak Prescott and keeping all their draft picks?
The other issue I have with a Russell Wilson trade is the impact on the locker room. Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and one of a few players I would consider an upgrade over Dak Prescott. Still, he does not have the best track record in terms of being a strong locker room presence. He is actively demanding a trade after throwing his teammates and organisation under the bus for not protecting him. There was also whispers of a locker room divide in Seattle centred around Russell Wilson from a few years ago following the demise of the “legion of boom” Seahawks. In stark contrast, Dak Prescott appears to be loved by his teammates, is considered a locker room leader, and displays class on and off the field. Unlike many of Dak’s teammates, he has not held out of team activities or delayed surgeries as a negotiation tactic. This in spite of the fact that unlike his peers Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, he played out his entire rookie contract and even played on the franchise tag. In my opinion, it would rub the locker room the wrong way if a guy the love like Dak Prescott is swept aside for a hired gun from a team with a known history of locker room division.
For all of the above stated reasons, I am not a fan of a Russell Wilson trade to the Dallas Cowboys. Regardless, of my opinion, it is nothing but a pipe dream anyway. What the Dallas Cowboys need to do is get a deal done with Dak Prescott. If they fail to do so, he won’t be replaced by Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, or the next great rookie quarterback. The overwhelming odds are that he will be replaced by a string of journeymen, busts, and has beens just like the post Aikman/pre Romo era.
*Photo by Mike Morris //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode